Thursday

Sep 21, 2017 at 5:22 PMSep 21, 2017 at 8:50 PM

FOXBORO – Malcolm Butler entered this year coming off another successful NFL season.

In 2016, the cornerback was a staple in the Patriots’ defense en route to earning All-Pro honors. He played 96.5 percent of the Patriots’ defensive snaps. The total was the second most on the team. In 2015, Butler led his teammates with 98.8 percent of the defensive snaps played. He earned Pro Bowl honors that season.

Butler came into the 2017 season with high expectations, but this year hasn’t gone to plan. Last weekend, in New Orleans, the cornerback didn’t start for the first time since his 2014 rookie season. The benching was a surprise for many, but not for this 27-year-old.

Talking to the media for the first time in two weeks, Butler opened up about his demotion, contract status and trade rumors. He said he wasn’t surprised when Eric Rowe started in place of him last week.

“I haven’t been performing at the level I should be performing at,” Butler admitted. “I’ve got to do whatever I’ve got to do to help the team… Just got to keep grinding. Keep working hard.”

For Butler, the year of 2017 has been difficult. He entered free agency as a restricted free agent and many people believed he’d get the first big contract of his career. Instead, the corner took one free agent visit to New Orleans. Although he and the Saints reportedly agreed to a five-year deal worth upward of $50 million, New Orleans wouldn’t sign him due to the restricted label (they would’ve had to give the Patriots their first-round pick).

Although rumors swirled about a trade between the Saints and Patriots, a deal never materialized and Butler returned to Foxboro for $3.91 million.

This summer, Butler struggled in the two preseason games he played in surrounding touchdowns in games against Houston and Detroit. In Week 1, against Kansas City, he committed a costly pass interference penalty, in the end zone, and allowed four catches on four targets for 48 yards.

“Sometimes I question myself, but I’m finding my way back,” Butler said of his struggles. “You better believe that.”

When Butler returned to New Orleans last weekend, many thought he’d perform well against the team that nearly traded for him. Instead, he started on the bench and used as the third cornerback until Rowe left the game with a groin injury.

During the Saints game, Butler allowed a 5-yard touchdown to Brandon Coleman. The corner declined comment after the game and all last week leading up to the contest. The benching and recent performances have many wondering if Butler’s upcoming free agency is on his mind.

On Thursday, he was asked if he thought that being benched would hurt his free agent stock.

“I kind of thought of it like that, but I can’t worry about anything but what’s happening right now,” Butler said. “Complaining or feeling sorry for myself is not going to make me perform better. I just have to keep it rolling. I’m going to get it rolling. That’s what I’ve got to do.”

Butler’s role – or lack thereof – also has people speculating whether or not he’ll be traded. After seeing Bill Belichick trade Jamie Collins last season, it’s safe to wonder if the coach will do it again with Butler. Butler said he’s tried not to focus on the trade rumors.

“As much as I can, I try not to,” butler said. “This is where I play, this is where I’m happy at. So I just have to continue doing my thing.”

Butler made it clear on Thursday that he wasn’t going to let negative thoughts affect his play. He knows the only thing he can do is “play hard with a lot of fire.”

“There have been times when I’ve been through a lot of stuff,” Butler said. “I made it through that and I made it to the National Football League, so if I can handle that and make it to the NFL, I can put my mind together to make it past this situation. Just got to perform better. It’s still early, but [I] need a sense of urgency and you’ll see that.”

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